"Besides these great sects… no other guests?"
"Wind Sword Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan are allies to begin with.
And the prodigies of the Four Elemental Academies are all close friends of Lord Sword Wine.
Them coming isn't the least bit surprising!"
"Has the Spirit Hall really grown so dominant? Even the combined presence of the Upper Three Sects can't make the other sects take a side?"
"Hmph! Let them come or not! Without them, will the feast stop?"
Ning Fengzhi, Yu Yuanzhen, and the others still wore smiles…
But deep in their eyes, a faint heaviness flashed by.
The title of Spirit Hall as the 'Holy Land of Spirit Masters' was not an empty claim.
Originally, they had hoped to use this grand banquet to ignite a spark across the continent, to disperse some of the gloom cast by Bibi Dong's founding of an empire and ascent to the title of Empress.
But now…
The results appeared minimal.
Even though a few small factions within Heaven Dou territory forced themselves to attend—out of respect for the upper three sects' authority—
They were all insignificant, unknown sects whose Sect Masters were not even Spirit Saints.
Announcing their names only worsened the awkwardness.
Yu Tianheng, Feng Xiaotian, Huo Wushuang, and the others frowned.
On the main seat, Emperor Xue Ye coughed lightly, unable to hide the worry between his brows.
"Sigh…"
Li Zhexian and Feng Bailong exchanged a glance.
As the main figures of today's ceremony, only they could smooth things over and prevent the atmosphere from turning completely cold.
Just as Li Zhexian was about to speak—
A vast, dense humming sound suddenly echoed from the distant horizon!
Everyone's head snapped upward.
From afar, a massive expanse of "dark clouds" was rolling toward Heaven Dou City.
"What is that…?"
Someone cried out in shock:
"Spirit beasts!"
"Countless flying spirit beasts!"
"A beast tide! A beast tide is coming!"
Inside the inner city—
Yu Tianheng and Feng Xiaotian's expressions changed dramatically.
But Ning Fengzhi, Dugu Bo, and several other seniors remained calm.
With the relationships they now had with the two forest overlords, it was impossible for a beast tide to attack the city.
"Everyone, do not panic. They hold no malice." Li Zhexian's clear voice spread across the entire city.
Heaven Dou's restless crowds gradually settled.
At that moment—
The vast "dark clouds" broke through the brilliant energy currents in the sky…
And loomed directly above Heaven Dou City.
Rustle—
Rustle—
Under countless stunned gazes—
A rain of medicinal herbs and spirit fruits fell from the claws of the flying Spirit Beasts.
The whole of Heaven Dou City felt as if blessed by a gentle shower of spiritual medicine.
The people froze—
Then burst into joyous cheers, scrambling to gather them.
Thankfully, Spirit Masters were already stationed throughout the streets to maintain order, preventing chaos.
"So this is the congratulatory gift that Seniors Da Ming and Er Ming mentioned?"
Li Zhexian's thoughts flickered.
And then—
The Spirit Beasts in the sky changed formation again.
Slowly… deliberately…
They arranged themselves into two enormous lines of characters:
Clearly visible from every corner of the city:
— Congratulations to Brother Zhexian on attaining the Titled Douluo Level!
— Congratulations to Lord Wind Sword on attaining the Titled Douluo Level!
Spirit Beasts…
Congratulating a human on becoming a Titled Douluo.
This was absolutely unprecedented.
The faint awkwardness and disappointment from the lack of guests vanished instantly—
Swept away by the overwhelming spectacle of tens of thousands of Spirit Beasts coming to celebrate.
What other faction could compare?
Who could exceed such grandeur?
"Lord Sword Wine and Lord Wind Sword truly command immense respect!"
"Forget those sects who didn't come! What is that compared to ten thousand beasts coming to celebrate?"
"Perhaps… the bond between humans and spirit beasts isn't doomed to slaughter!"
"I'd like to see how those who refused to come can sit still now!"
...
Inside the inner city—
Emperor Xue Ye nodded repeatedly, beaming.
Li Zhexian's friends were all smiling.
"Well, what did we say? Brother Zhexian has great personal connections!"
"Even the entire Star Dou Great Forest came to celebrate!"
As the flying Spirit Beasts dispersed and sunlight returned to bathe the city—
The grand banquet officially began.
Li Zhexian and Feng Bailong made a full round through the city streets before returning to the inner palace to join their friends.
"Hahaha, Brother Zhexian, we've been waiting for you!"
The moment he touched the ground—
Feng Xiaotian and Huo Wushuang hooked their arms around his shoulders from left and right, dragging him toward the banquet tables.
Li Zhexian had just begun to smile when his expression suddenly changed.
He looked back up at the sky.
An indescribable sensation stirred within him.
The once-clear heavens were now filled with fluttering snow, drifting endlessly as a cold, pure mist descended.
The sight was so beautiful it seemed unreal.
But to the people of Heaven Dou, it was all too familiar.
Because the same phenomenon had appeared once—half a year ago.
"Not good! The Snow Maiden is here again!
She's come to abduct Lord Sword Wine again!"
"With so many Titled Douluo here today, let's see how she dares act so arrogantly!"
The leisurely drinking Dugu Bo's expression changed abruptly, his green-red serpent eyes shrinking to slits.
"Chen Xin! Gu Rong! Wind Sword! Old Dragon!"
"A powerful enemy approaches!"
His green robe whipped violently in the wind and snow, his aged face solemn and heavy.
Six months ago—
Even after his Martial Soul evolved into the Four-Headed Serpent Emperor, he was still crushed by a single strike from that mysterious Snow Maiden.
Even now, having reached the stage of Ten Heads, he had no confidence.
Hearing Dugu Bo's shout—
Chen Xin and the other three Titled Douluo reacted instantly, flashing to stand protectively before Li Zhexian.
Feng Xiaotian, Huo Wushuang, and the others quickly formed a defensive ring around him.
Just as the entire city became tense and still—
The swirling snowfall gathered into a spiraling blizzard tornado in midair.
Within the vortex—
A graceful, faintly blurred female figure appeared slowly, holding a small beast in her arms.
A cold, crystalline voice like clashing ice jade echoed across the city:
"The Extreme North congratulates Li Zhexian on attaining the Titled Douluo level.""
Under the stunned gaze of tens of thousands, Li Zhexian's white robes billowed in the wind and snow.
He stepped forward to the vortex, clasping his hands with a warm smile:
"Senior Snow Emperor, your presence is an honor this junior hardly deserves."
The Snow Emperor gently stroked the little Yazi in her arms as it reached a claw toward Li Zhexian.
She spoke softly:
"It has been crying every day to see you."
"The news of your Titled Douluo banquet has reached the Extreme North."
"I took this opportunity to bring it to you.
"Yi-yaa!"
The little Yazǐ leapt from her arms and bounded joyfully through the snow into Li Zhexian's embrace.
Catching the small creature, Li Zhexian smiled at the Snow Emperor:
"Would Senior be willing to honor us by coming down to share a cup of wine?"
The Snow Emperor glanced at the youth with the gentle smile and dipped her head slightly.
A swirl of wind and snow—
And the two were already seated before an empty table.
Seeing the Snow Maiden actually sit at a banquet table—
Chen Xin, Feng Bailong, Dugu Bo, and the others were all struck speechless.
Even they, as Titled Douluo—
Knew very little about the mysterious existence ruling the Extreme North.
Yet Li Zhexian had invited this legendary ruler?
"Gulp…"
In the dead silence, the sound of Feng Buyu swallowing was painfully loud.
Huo Wu's fiery red eyes were wide with shock:
"This Li Zhexian guy..."
"His connections are this terrifying?!"
The girls beside her shook their heads blankly.
Even Shui Bing'er couldn't maintain her usual coolness.
As someone born in the northern lands, she knew better than anyone—
What the name "Snow Maiden" represented.
Li Zhexian had formed ties…
With the being worshiped as the Ice-and-Snow Goddess of the North?!
Amid the rising commotion of the crowd—
Yu Xiaogang, Liu Erlong, and Flender—pushing a wheelchair—stood together.
"The moment has come."
"All the great figures have arrived."
"In such circumstances, Li Zhexian definitely won't refuse me."